Northwest Arkansas National Airport[1] (XNA) is no longer in Highfill after detaching from the city. Also, the airport’s new 3-megawatt solar array began operating recently.
The Sept. 26 detachment followed Highfill and XNA’s agreement, which ensured the city would pay its bonds, including an additional $72,380 each month from its sales tax fund. The additional amount will be paid in 63 installments starting in October 2025, allowing the bonds to be paid off by Dec. 31, 2030. That day, the city will end its taxes for XNA customers.
According to the agreement, the city and XNA are responsible for their own attorneys’ fees, and all pending court cases were to be dismissed upon entry of the final order of detachment. The approved order was filed with Benton County Court on Sept. 26.
In July 2023, a new state law took effect allowing XNA to detach from Highfill without being annexed into another city.
On Aug. 22, XNA’s solar array was connected to the grid. The array is on about 23.5 acres at the airport and is expected to save XNA more than $100,000 annually.
In December 2022, XNA agreed to negotiate a 25-year power purchase agreement with North Little Rock-based solar energy company Today’s Power Inc. to offset the airport’s electricity costs by purchasing electricity produced by the array.
At that time, XNA documents showed the airport was paying about $500,000 annually for electricity from Carroll Electric Cooperative. XNA consultant J Miller Energy Consulting recommended Today’s Power because its proposal showed the greatest net present value savings, which was estimated at $1.06 million over 25 years.
Related
References
- ^ Northwest Arkansas National Airport (www.flyxna.com)